CAMPBELL >> Aptos Little League’s resilient Majors All-Stars team turned in a complete performance in the consolation final of the Section 5 tournament on Monday to advance to the championship.

Pitcher Beau Pieracci recorded seven strikeouts and earned the complete-game win, Aptos’ offense did damage in every inning, and its defense turned in several highlight plays. The end result was a four inning, 14-3 rout of Los Gatos in the teams’ elimination game.

Aptos, coming off an 8-7 loss to Los Altos on Sunday, was a confident squad from the first pitch.

“They just played their game and, in all aspects of the game, they came through,” said Aptos manager Tim Reilly. “I never doubted it for a second.”

Aptos faces Los Altos in the championship on Tuesday at Campbell L.L. at 5:30 p.m.

Los Altos has to lose twice to be eliminated. If Aptos can avenge its loss to Los Altos on Tuesday, the teams will play again Wednesday to determine the champion and which team advances to the NorCal Tournament.Pieracci said Aptos’ confidence level is “10.”

Pieracci came on in relief against Los Altos on Sunday and struggled to find the strike zone during his short-lived appearance. Monday, he was called upon to start the elimination game and was a dominant, strike throwing force.

Reilly used a recent photo of Pieracci published in the Sentinel of Pieracci after he threw a no-hitter in the District 39 championship as motivation.

“I pointed to it and said, ‘I need this guy today on the mound,’ And he brought it. He delivered,” Reilly said. “And, at bat, too,”

Said Los Gatos manager Damon Williams: “He was dealing today, getting ahead in counts. Getting ahead with fastballs early and we’d have to fight off tough pitches after that. Hats off to Beau. He pitched amazing.”

It was a team effort on offense as nine players scored. Aptos scored four runs in the first inning, two in the second, and eight in the third to chase Los Gatos starting pitcher Logan Williams and jump ahead 14-0.

“You know, a loss isn’t the worst thing in a two-loss tournament,” Reilly said. “It’s not the worst thing in the world, especially for these guys.”

Pieracci had three hits and four RBI. Cody Pieracci drew three walks and scored three runs. Tysen Espinoza had two hits, three RBI, and scored twice, and Miles Lee had two hits and scored twice. Ethan Crump had a hit, one walk, and scored twice.

Wyatt Graaskamp, Owen Reilly, Patrick Collins, and Nolan McKee also scored for Aptos.

Beau Pieracci sailed threw his first three innings. He gave up a leadoff double to Barrett Laubach in the first, but Aptos first baseman Hunter LaTorre snagged a line drive to rob Logan Williams of an extra-base hit, and Pieracci struck out the next two batters to leave Laubach stranded.

Pieracci nearly recorded an immaculate inning in the second. He struck out the side on 10 pitches.

“Almost,” said Pieracci, noting his fastball was dialed in. “I didn’t know it at the time. I found out when I got in the dugout.”

In the third, Los Gatos’ Tommy Rabitz hit a leadoff single to right field, but barely made it to first base in time in a play at the bag. Pieracci recorded a strikeout, and Lee, playing shortstop, made a diving catch up the middle to rob Cruz Barragan of a hit and fired to first base to double off Rabitz.

Los Gatos broke through against Pieracci in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough to extend the game. Mason Derakhshandeh drew a one-out walk and Laubach followed with a two-run home run down the right field line. Williams singled and scored on a two-out single from Charlie Nielsen.

“We battled,” said Williams, whose team posted a 19-14 win to eliminate Santa Teresa on Sunday. “It’s been an amazing run. Too little, too late. Four days in a row. Super proud of the boys. They did an amazing job, even getting here. Coming through District 12 is not easy.”

Pieracci induced a fly out to center field to end the game.

11s All-Stars

Capitola-Soquel 7, Sunnyvale 4 >> Capitola-Soquel scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to rally past Sunnyvale in the Section 5 consolation final on Monday at Hollister Little League.

Jackson Castiglioni, Jake Hodge, Samuel Ryan, and Cameron Barbic had big hits and each scored for Capitola-Soquel in the sixth.

Capitola-Soquel faces unbeaten Willow Glen in the final on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Willow Glen has to lose twice to be eliminated. If Capitola-Soquel wins Tuesday, the teams will square off again Wednesday at 6 p.m. to determine who gets the banner and advances to the NorCal Tournament.

10s All-Stars

Capitola-Soquel 7, Santa Teresa 3 >> Capitola-Soquel forced a winner-take-all final for the Section 5 title with its win Monday at Pajaro Valley Little League in Watsonville.

The teams square off again on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. to determine who wins the section banner and advances to the NorCal Tournament.